Latest news with #CommunityImprovementDistrict
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
New shopping center, senior apartments and restaurant planned for north St. Joseph
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Residents could see a variety of new destinations for shopping, housing and food as part of a multi-million dollar project at the corner of North Village Drive and Rochester Road in north St. Joseph. The large-scale development project is planned for a seven-acre property adjacent to Tuscany Village and east of the North Shoppes, and is expected to include a new 50-unit senior housing complex, a 10,000 to 11,000 square foot strip shopping center with multiple retailers and one or potentially two new fast-food restaurants. The project is spearheaded by property owner and local developer BR & JR Development, LLC, and includes nearly $2.2 million for numerous public infrastructure improvements, including grading, sidewalks, storm sewer, lighting, landscaping and two new turn lanes, among others. We've sold the back four and a half acres to an apartment builder," Margaret Bruce with BR & JR Development said. "We close the sale with the apartment folks I believe on June 27 ... we anticipate starting (construction) fairly soon after we close." Phase one of construction will begin with site development and the apartment complex, followed by the shopping center/restaurant, an anticipated yearlong process. Developers are hopeful to have retailers open for business by the end of 2026. While the exact businesses haven't been disclosed, due to pending contract negotiations, Bruce said the company is in discussions with a variety of national retailers and quick-serve restaurants to support the up-and-coming center. "Two (restaurants) that we're looking at now that we're talking with are not currently in St. Joe, so we're really excited about that," she said. "We're thinking of maybe splitting that site to where maybe we can either get two drive thrus." Bruce said they haven't ruled out other types of businesses potentially going in, particularly with the automotive and healthcare industries showing strong interest. The entire project is estimated to cost $7.7 million, $5.5 million of which will come from private funding. The remaining $2.2 million in needed public infrastructure upgrades will be paid for by the developers upfront and later reimbursed over a 27-year period through a one-cent sales tax on future sales from businesses on the property only, part of a new Community Improvement District (CID) approved by City Council on May 12. The additions will not only provide a variety of new amenities for residents but help create jobs and expand sales tax opportunities, efforts designed to improve the city's population. "I think with the apartments coming that will create even more business," she said. "It's a great site, great exit off of I-29, easy access. The CID will impose a $2 annual special assessment per building square foot on all retail and commercial uses within the district. The current assessed value of the property is $70,570. Community development officials said the opportunity for additional public infrastructure improvements made it an attractive partnership. A five-person board of directors appointed by the mayor will oversee the CID with staggered terms. As part of the CID agreement, City Council will have control over development costs in accordance with state law. North Village Drive and Tuscany Village have seen significant economic growth in recent years, including new hotels, an Urgent Care Express, a planned Community Aquatic Center, the newly-opened VA Clinic, Swing365 golf simulator and upcoming Oasis Face Bar. A full list of public infrastructure improvements funded by the CID can be found below.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
Service leaders on KC homelessness: ‘We can and will find a better way'
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — In 2023, about 96% of people experiencing chronic homelessness in Kansas City were unsheltered – the worst rate of any major US city. That number comes from the 2023 HUD report, its 2024 report shows only state data. In Missouri, there was a 9% increase in people experiencing homelessness from 2023 to 2024. In Kansas City, there are residents experiencing the issue firsthand, and others who are working to resolve it. Alleyways off Independence Avenue is in an area that's become notorious for homeless encampments. Black bear recently seen in Kansas City area appears to be injured, MDC says The urban street ambassadors spend their days on Independence Ave. with the Community Improvement District. They're contracted by the city to clean more than a dozen alleyways in the corridor. 'I am coming out here to let everyone know if you need resources, Healing House will be down here to talk to you guys, but we got to clean out the alley,' Laura Birdsong, the team resource manager, said to some people living in the alley. One of the people she was talking to, she was surprised to see. 'The last time we cleaned up that alleyway, we actually helped him get his belongings to an apartment he thought he was going to be getting,' she said. 'Something fell through for him.' That's just one person's story on the avenue. 'There's got to be a commitment on all sides,' said Josh Henges, the Prevention Coordinator for the city. 'What's happening in the Northeast is a combination of a lot of things. You've got a high level of substance use. You've got a lot of human trafficking, and that makes it very difficult who are experiencing homelessness to get off the street, who are entangled in that.' Henges believes that to solve homelessness, intervention is needed to help address crime and other physical and mental health issues. Plus, the creation of more affordable housing. 'You've got to have folks working boots on the ground with this population, and you have to have a place for them to go,' he said. KC2026: Charter busses will take you to World Cup matches At Restart, one of KC's largest homeless service providers, CEO Stephanie Boyer says people are connected with a case manager. Even when some get into safer housing, hundreds more are waiting. 'We have a need for 26 thousand units for people in a low-income category,' she said. 'We've seen families renting storage units and living in them, renting U-Haul trucks, literally living and sleeping in the back of it, because it's cheaper to rent either of those options for a week than it is a hotel or to be able to try and find housing.' While day shelters and free meals provide temporary relief, it's not producing long term solutions. 'It's going to take the political will, and it's going to have to be a public-private partnership in order to get to where we need to be, or what you're seeing on the streets here will only continue to get worse,' said Boyer. Birdsong said that people are will to help, and that sometimes the help is received. Like the man from earlier, who was able to sleep somewhere safe that night. 'My promise to everybody is just that we can and we will find a better way, you just have to be willing, and until that time we are going to have an understanding of how we are going to coexist out here,' she said. Search underway in south central Kansas for missing Overland Park woman She also says that sometimes people might not see the need right away, or may have other barriers stopping them from accessing resources. No matter the reason, compassion never hurts. Henges said it was a goal this year to have year-round sheltered beds. In the past, they've only had beds during winter. However, as of May 1, 125 beds were made available, all of which were immediately filled. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Yahoo
Big Sioux Levee Trail reopens in Dakota Dunes
DAKOTA DUNES, S.D. (KCAU) — The Big Sioux Levee Trail in Dakota Dunes, South Dakota has opened back up temporarily after being closed to allow for repairs to the river's levee. According to the Dakota Dunes Community Improvement District, the trail is open as of April 30. However, it's expected to close again sometime in May once Lieber Construction gets additional materials and continues work on the Big Sioux River levee. Crittenton Center receives AIA Iowa Impact Award for Tiny Homes Golf carts are allowed on the trail from Prairie Park to the levee and the access point from E Pinehurst via the maintenance asphalt road. Officials urged users of the trail to take their typical precautions. The repair project was approved back in Jan. 2025, with Lieber Construction awarded the project after their bid of nearly $2 million. The levee was damaged from June 2024's historic flooding. The Pointe walking trail near the Big Sioux River will be relocated further inland by spring or early summer 2025. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Dutch Bros. Coffee coming to Springfield and Ozark
SPRINGFIELD, MO – A popular drive-up coffee chain plans to establish a presence in the Ozarks. Oregon-based Dutch Bros. Coffee is working to add at least two stores in the metro, including one in Springfield and another in Ozark. Dutch Bros., which has a large presence in the western and southern U.S., operates primarily with stand-alone drive-through stores. Familiar competitors include brands such as 7 Brew, Scooters, and Dunkin. These proposed Dutch Bros. locations would be the company's first in our area. Right now, the closest are in Kansas City, Tulsa, and Saint Louis. City of Springfield records indicate the company has submitted a building permit request for a site at 3840 W. Sunshine St. The plot is in the Springfield Plaza shopping center and faces Sunshine between Plaza Tire and Taco Bell. This would be the latest business to announce new locations in the area near Sunshine and West Bypass. Others in the works include Target, Chick-fil-A, Olive Garden, Wendy's, and Blu Current. Meantime, the City of Ozark has announced a proposed development that would include a Dutch Bros. location. The 40-acre Ozark Marketplace development, currently being discussed by city leaders, would be off South St. near U.S. 65. The area would also include 12 other businesses, including an Aldi, McDonalds, and Plaza Tire. 'We're all about economic development, expansion, creating more jobs. This opportunity right here not only will create retail spaces in the available lots for Ozark, but it's also going to create between 250 to 400 jobs in this community, which is always impactful,' said Chris Russell, President of the Ozark Chamber of Commerce. Construction of the Ozark location will happen if the town's city council approves several bills associated with the Ozark Marketplace project, ranging from zoning approval to a Community Improvement District (CID). 'A community improvement district is just geared towards that particular area. They're going to have a 1% sales tax cost, so if something comes to a $1.06 across town at a McDonald's and you buy a dollar item at this one, it might cost you a $1.07,' Russell said. 'What happens is after all of the financial obligations are paid off, such as the infrastructure improvements, the roads, anything, they use that money to develop this property, then there's a possibility that CID could go away.' The vote on the Ozark Marketplace project is expected to happen on April 7. The West Sunshine location would be built in the already-established Springfield Plaza CID in an area already zoned for commercial development. Its construction does not hinge on a council vote. Ozarks First has reached out to Dutch Bros. Coffee regarding a timeline for construction and grand openings. We will provide those details when they become available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Topeka City Council takes first steps toward giving Jim Klausman tax incentives
The Topeka City Council approved the first steps toward giving Jim Klausman new tax incentives. During Tuesday's meeting, the council approved submitting findings related to the creation of a Reinvestment Housing Incentive District in Lauren's Bay to the Kansas secretary of commerce for review. Council members Christina Valdivia-Alcalá and David Banks voted no. Assistant city manager Braxton Copley said this is the first step toward getting the RHID tax incentive approved. In a city meeting Feb. 11, council members discussed whether they should allow 16 Lauren's Bay lots to be turned into an RHID. During the discussion, concerns were raised about opening themselves up to litigation by allowing developer Klausman tax incentives despite owing money to the city. Klausman owns 140 of the Lauren's Bay lots through various companies. However, he is seeking tax incentives for just 16 of the lots. Lauren's Bay is located near S.W. 47th Street and Wanamaker Road, and is a neighborhood in the Auburn-Washburn school district. In previous discussions, the city council has debated whether to give Klausman tax incentives or why they are negotiating paybacks with him in the first place. Earlier in the evening, the council approved the negotiations with Klausman on how he would repay the owed money on the 16 lots. Part of the agreement was giving Klausman tax incentives for those lots. The approved agreement between the Topeka administration and Klausman states Klausman will pay $2.25 a square foot for a total of $525,333, of which $102,000 would be applied to the current outstanding special assessments, according to city documents. These negotiations are for 16 of the lots and not for all his properties in Lauren's Bay. Various companies owned by Klausman have 124 additional lots in the Lauren's Bay neighborhood. For all 124 lots, Klausman owes $7,274,816 between general back taxes, penalties and uncollected special assessments, which were for the city installing functional infrastructure when the land was first developed. The future special assessments owed for all the lots total $3,617,629. As part of Klausman's negotiations, he is asking for additional tax incentives through a Community Improvement District. Copley said one of the first steps toward approving the additional tax incentives is having a public hearing. Those interested in weighing in on the CID can attend the hearing, which will take place during the April 8 city council meeting. This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Jim Klausman is step closer to getting tax incentives for Topeka site
